Mobile Ministry Magazine

I write this a good bit before writing Part Three of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report but this is a great article posted at the Biblical Studies and Technological Tools blog about thinking about what technology and faith will look like given what we have seen happen in other media and lifestyles in the Western church.

Without going too far into things on my end, here is a snippet of this great thought-piece:

I am also wondering, then, if we might actually become more dependent on private resources/devices rather than network resources. I.e., it will be lots easier to secure a personal device not connected to any network, and I will be more confident in working with guaranteed secure resources not based on the network. This does mean that I believe that someone will still be developing and providing technological resources for biblical studies, but I also suspect that the choices will be greatly reduced. We are already seeing the convergence of best features of the various Bible programs, and as this trend continues, the only differentiating factor will be cost. I just hope we aren't all buying Wal-Mart or Google Bible software after they buy up every other current company in this field

Read the rest of the post The Future of Bible Studies and Technological Tools.

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Labels: Bible, church, community, education, gospel, mission, mobile, mobility, networking, phone, purchasing, software, stewardship, study, tech, urban, worship

Image from Wikipedia

For many of you, its not an issue of "if" to extend your offices, by using web and mobile technology, its a matter of "how."

To answer the "how" we are going to look at a few areas: engaging people to use the tools and selecting what works best with your budget.

Engaging the Team

A major hurdle to using anything new is getting people sold on the idea that it would work best for them. Unfortunately, we are creatures of habit. Doing something different, especially when it comes to utilizing mobile devices, services, or applications can be a bear.

One thing you want to have in place before you roll out a solution is some type of easy to access help system. This should be in two layers (simple): knowledge base and people (in that order). The first questions people ask are the "how do I do this" ones, so making sure that this is populated, and constantly maintained, is of great importance. This resources should be emphasized during any training, and a part of a weekly routine of checking on the progress of implementing a solution.

What this looks like to the minister's on-the-go-office could be a wiki that is saved on the mobile device with common topics. It could be a contact entry that is constantly synced with a note detailing how to do immediate problem solving.

The people resource should be the second and final one. This is where one asks for assistance in doing a feature, or needs a refresher in what was taught originally. Everyone needs a point of contact, and assuring them that there is a person that can be contacted makes it easier for people to accept that there's a change in the workflow in the mist.

Actually getting the team to use those new tools might be less difficult if it could be implemented into the normal routine. For example, in one SharePoint installation I was a part of, instead of making the entire enterprise use it all at once, we made the departments use it only for announcements. We left it open for individuals to play with, but made them know that the only way to know about what was going on was to visit the SharePoint website. Over time, we rolled out more and more SharePoint-only features, backed up with training key users on more features so they would talk about it, getting others involved into using it on a more consistent basis. Basically speaking, giving it to them in small bits is better than force-feeding.

Budget Concerns

One of the questions that is always asked when talking about extending one's office using mobile tech is the cost. Cost doesn't just include the money, its also inclusive of the time, the administration, and any thing else that is not actively using the tech. Balancing cost versus use is hard, but here are some things to think about when evaluating cost:

• Are those providing support or those building the system a volunteer who may leave at any given time?
• Does using a mobile device require additional learning outside of just using office tools, such as user interface and system maintenance issues?
• What is the backup plan? Will implementing a backup plan cost as much as implementing the primary plan? Can using the backup be easier for users than using the primary?
• What are the cost savings/expenses of an entire ministry team being online? Are subsidies or grants available to offset the costs of running/not running a physical office?
• In extending the office, what are the costs to family, friends, and ministry endeavors? Can appropriate boundaries be kept?

Addressing Smaller Offices

Some of you reading this might see these as all well and good, but you are part of a 5-man or smaller team. Things just aren't that deep (in scope or budget). So what can you do?

Take advantage of web suites like Google Apps or Zoho Office. While providing a centralized interface for work, it will also keep things manageable in one area. Using smartphones, Internet Tablets, and UMPC devices are a good means to take light work on the go. Remember though that more devices are more things to manage. Choose the device carefully, basing the costs and engagement on what you already do and what you need to do better.

Labels: browser, community, device, email, family, Google, mission, mobile accessories, mobility, networking, SharePoint, stewardship, study, tech

A great post on Jaiku and how it speaks towards the social nature that mobiles and the internet has become is up over at SMSTextNews. Here is a snippet:

...All this so far has been about the utility. The product. The usability. The benefits. In my next (and last) Jaiku-themed piece I’ll cover off the final piece of the puzzle. The thing that, in my opinion, truly makes Jaiku special: The Community...

Labels: community, Jaiku, mobiles, mobility, networking, phone, tech

Cynthia Ware has taken a look look at how Christian missionaries are using new media as parts of their efforts to connect and share news of their connections when away from their "roots." Here's a snippet:

...Today's missionaries are using blogs, facebook, shutterfly and other social media to extend their connectedness, reward their supporters and create archived memories of their unique adventures. Whether missionaries are serving on short term teams or serving in long term posts, they need no longer be disconnected from their points of origin, hometowns, partners, sending churches, extended families, etc. In fact, if they have internet access, there's virtually (no pun intended) no reason they can't be very connected...

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, church, community, email, gospel, mission, mobile, mobile accessories, mobiles, networking, phone, podcast, software, tech, usablity, worship

Probably more than most else, I think about how to engage studying and sharing the Word via the use of conversations and mobile devices. I've got this thought that because we are at a point where the Word and several resources can be carried with us, that we can effectivly take this aspect of the discipleship out from the church walls and literally be a church that goes to people.

Most would hear that and think that its near radical, and a borderline good idea. I want to submit that its not only a good idea, but in light of the commission that we have as believers, that it is something that we should do (once we've been equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and maturity to speak with grace in any occasion).

What does this mobile-enabled study look like then?

- Is it like the OLPC program where tools are given as a blank canvas for people to dig in and be directed through the Word, finding concepts and functions of our faith through discovery then application?

- Or is this like a blogger-relations program where we take subject areas and then endow enabled people to speak the truths of God in fashions that demonstrate a skillful handling of the technology at the intersection of faith and need?

- Or is it something that has not yet been explored? Something where technology can truthfully fade to the background once it opens up the real issue that the Body has a responsibility to be more than just a picture of God, but His hands and heart to the world around us.

I would argue that it is a little of both. And because mobile tech as a broad field is general in and of itself, that one can look towards past uses of new technologies towards ways in which mobile tech can and should be used towards keeping the Body joined in faithfulness.

I envision situations such as when people that have nothing but mobile phones being able to hold a conversation on a particular topic, but accessing a SMS repository of verses, quotes, and subject areas.

I see classrooms over pen and paper, PDA/smartphones/laptops, and software services where people discourse on how to continue to lead their communities; then make class projects out of being effective.

I see people understanding the positive and negative scope of technology; knowing that there's a time to pick it up, and a time to put it down. Where services aren't a demonstration of the wizz-bang that tech does, but that it sits in the background while the faithfulness of those who've walked in that esteemed hall of faith are spoken about. Where the Body has an understanding of this technology, and is skillful enough to be a servant-leader to the rest of the world in this arena.

When I started MMM, this is the point that I saw in this endeavor - a place where you can learn various ways to skillfully use this tech to point people to the goodness/mercy/respect/justice of God by Christ Jesus. No, I'm not espousing that tech is the answer to do this, only that its here and we might as well use it. Especially since, when it comes to tech and where we are in faith, there's an intersection that needs to be addressed. And this World won't stand for Christ to just sit down and click a mouse, when the point is sharing Him.

Labels: Bible, community, mobile, networking, tech

I was just reading a website that called itself a social networking website for cellular devices and all it did was allow you to SMS a person that you prayed for them and download ringtones. Really, that was all. I wish that I could build one, because I have an idea of something just a bit more effective.

I think of an application where a community of people can gather around the Word (online and offline), and then place time-stamps and bookmarks towards where they are studying. Not just individuals, but groups of people can enmasse study parts of the Word and engage in community-building efforts. Something like what is happening here with the Amazon Kindle.

If you will, taking that idea of sitting in a Bible study, and not just leveraging the fact that some/all can have a laptop/tablet/smartphone to read from, but they would have an ability to share their notes, highlighted items, and anything else as a layer above the "community Bible."

I kind of think of it like the OLPC's mesh networking feature, but built around meeting around the Word. Considering how much we like to get people to meet at various events and places, it would be even better if we could do it in such a way that brings them around the Word, but gives them an incentive to read it, and grow from reading our own experences while we live it.

Labels: community, Kindle, mobile, networking

When people are out and about in a place that they have never been, its pretty much normal to consult a map. Occasionally, people will look at a map before they even take a trip, getting an idea of the lay of the land and important places.

But what about those of us who just do things on more of a whim. Where we use our GPS and mobile devices to find not just what is around us, but where we are in relation to those places/people? Take a look at the updated Google Maps Mobile application today had me asking the question "where are you in relation to me" rather than just "where are you."

The latest version of Google Maps Mobile acts a lot like a GPS, except it is not extra hardware, and it uses your mobile phone. The MyLocation feature is the new aspect and basically its a "blue dot" that shows roughly where you are. It basically uses cell tower information to approximate where you are. Cool right? I like it, and for the cost of free it is a great way to get out of a jam.

There's a discussion at GigaOm that's talking on this, and why it is great for consumers and the mobile industry as a whole. But what if you are a ministry that is looking to attract people who are looking for a place to fellowship, or a place to call a solid, Christian church-home? Is your contact information updated and easy to find on your website so that search engines such as Google can pick this information up and make you findable on such a mobile map? Have you invested in any directory services that will assist you in putting your information on search engines for churches and other non-profit organizations?

Because, as it stands now, if you are not easily findable on the map, a person might not make your "blue dot" a home for them.

Note: The MyLocation feature of Google Maps Mobile is available in version 2.0 of the Google Maps Mobile application. At this time, not all mobile devices are supported. To download the latest version for your mobile device, visit http://www.google.com/gmm.

Labels: mobile accessories, mobiles, networking, software, tech

Here's part of a blog entry I wrote discussing my woes trying to get my two Vista PCs networked.

...At the time, I had an XP laptop, and I was able to get the two networking just fine without any major issues. After selling that laptop and purchasing a brand new Vista laptop, I couldn't get the two to network to save my life. Now, this wasn't an issue when I first got the laptop because I wasn't worried about trying to network the two; my focus was on uninstalling all the junk that it comes with and putting on my desired applications (one of which being Windows Live OneCare, since I was giving that a try as my system's security suite, and had already been running it on the desktop). Once all of that was said & done and I was ready to network (to transfer files and setup the printer), I was unable to do so. Using Vista's network map, I could clearly see that my wife's computer was connected to the network & vice-versa, but I couldn't access them for the life of me...

Labels: networking, onecare, vista